The Drop №. 121 with Chase Hobby

VRB’s weekly list of things to read, watch, listen to, and try that have helped us live better and be better. Brought to you this week by Chase Hobby.

Straight Lines by Silence and Light

Listen to Straight Lines by Silence and Light. Silence and Light is a hard rock band made up of five former United States special operations veterans (Brad Thomas, Tyson Stahl, Jason Everman, Fred Cowell, and Justin Meyers) - including a couple friends of ours. Beyond the fact that it's just cool to see former Marine Raiders, Army Delta Force, and Green Berets wail on instruments the music is flat out awesome. Turn this one to 11 and go to the gym. You're welcome.

Jimi Hendrix' Star Spangled Banner

Watch Jimi Hendrix play the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock. This performance, widely considered subversive and offensive at the time, has come to be regarded as one of the most important and beautiful renditions of our national anthem. I watch and listen to it often, never failing to get a strong case of the feels. Somehow, Hendrix can both criticize and celebrate his country in one moment. Either way, I'm here for it. USA, USA, USA.

The Search for Earth Look-Alikes Is Getting Serious

Read The Search for Earth Look-Alikes Is Getting Serious. Several years ago, astronomers pointed a telescope at a star and discovered something remarkable: seven planets, each one about the same size as Earth. At least three of those rocky worlds are in the habitable zone, at the right temperature for liquid, flowing water. Earthlike size and sunniness don’t guarantee that you’ll find ET, but if you were looking for signs of alien life beyond this solar system, this corner of the universe would be a promising place to start. So you're saying there's a chance....

3 Rules for Expressing Your Thoughts

Try these 3 Rules for Expressing Your Thoughts. We’ve all been in conversations where someone is speaking in circles, making no sense, and thinking out loud instead of making anything remotely close to a discrete point. Worse, sometimes we are that person. Some of us more often than not. Alan Alda’s 3 Rules are ironclad recommendations for communicating more clearly. Give ‘em a go.